2011 Media Releases

Date:

April 28, 2011

For More Information Contact:

Lynn Johnson, Parks and Recreation, 402-441-8265

Jerry Shorney, Parks and Recreation, 402-441-8259

Lincoln is Tree City USA for 34th Year

Lincoln has been named a "Tree City USA" by the National Arbor Day Foundation for the 34th consecutive year. year. Lincoln also received a Tree City Growth Award for continuing demonstrated commitment and progress in managing more than 130,000 public trees along streets and in parks.

"We're pleased to again have Lincoln's commitment to public trees recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation," said Lynn Johnson, Director of the City Parks and Recreation Department, which manages the City's public trees. "Trees contribute in many ways to our quality of life. The spring flowering trees lining many of our streets are particularly beautiful this year, and remind us that the trees we enjoy today are the result of planning and care over many years."

To qualify for the Tree City USA designation, a community must meet four standards established by the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters:

A tree board or department. Community Operations Forester Bob Weyhrich leads the Community Forestry section, which has 15 licensed arborists. Weyhrich was certified by the International Society of Arboriculture earlier this year. The Department is advised by a volunteer Community Forestry Advisory Board.

A tree care ordinance.

A community forestry pogram with an annual budget of at least $2 per resident Lincoln spends about $4 per resident on public tree management.

An Arbor Day observance and proclamation. Lincoln's observance was held today at Rousseau Elementary.

More information on Lincoln's Community Forester program, including how to request a no-cost permit to plant street trees, is available at parks.lincoln.ne.gov.

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the national Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. More information is available at arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.

"Communities that are honored with a Tree City USA designation and a Growth Award make a strong commitment to planting and caring for trees, and we applaud their efforts." said John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation. "We also commend a community's elected officials, volunteers and its citizens for providing needed care for its trees. They recognize that trees provide number environmental, economical and health benefits for the community every day."